Rapid-fire ordnance.



N0. 830,825. PATNTED SEPT. ll, 1906. J. W. DEARBORN.

RAPID FIRE ORDNANOB. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22, 1905.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F57/ .M f/%// PATBNTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

J.1`W. DBARBORN. RAND FIRE ORDNANGB.

.APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1905.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

, PATENTED SEPT. ll, 1906.

J. W. DEARBORN.

RAPID PIRE ORDNANG.

APPLITION FILED SEPT. 22, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0. 830,825. PATENTED SEPT. l1, 1906. J. W. DEARBORN. RAPID FIREORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1905.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATEN'IED SEPT. II, 1906. J. W. DBARBORN.

RAPID PIRE ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1905.

B SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED SEP'I"l 11, 1906. J. W. DBARBORN.

RAPID FIRE ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1905.

a SHEETS-'SHEET a.

PATENT-ED SEPT. 11, 19'06.

. J. w. DEARBORN. RAPID FIRE ORDNANGB;

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJZZ, 1905.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

STATES JOHN W. DEARBCRN, F DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

RAPID-.FIRE ORDNANCE.

No. 330,325.l

Patented Sept. 1 1, 1 906.

Application mea september 22,1905. seria-N0. 279.645.

-To all whom, it may concern/5 Be it known that I, JOHN W. DEARBORN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Derby, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Rapid-Fire Ordnance and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe characte rs of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, andexact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute partof this specification, and

represent, in-

Figure 1, a sectional view of the breech mechanism of a rapid-fire gunconstructed in accordance Awith my invention; Fig. 2, a rear end view ofthe gun; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional view of the breech mechanism;Fig. 3a, a plan view of the iiring-pin-sleeve wash er Fig. 4, a sideview of the cooking-lever; Fig. 5, an edge view of the same; Fig. 6, aside view of the electrical connector between the iiring-pin and Sear;Fig. 7, an edge view of the same; Fig. 8, a side view of one of theextractors; Fig. 9, an edge view of the same; Fig. 10, a sectional viewon line 10 10 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11, a top or planview of the scar;

Fig. 12, a side view of the same; Fig. 13, an

end view looking from the left; Fig. 14, an end view looking from theright; Fig. 15, a top view of the Sear-spring; Fig. 16, a side view ofthe same; Fig. 17, a side view of the Sear-rod; Fig. 18, an end view ofthe same; Fig. 19, aside view of the scar-rod sleeve; Fig. 20, an endview of the same; Fig. 2'1, a longitudinal section through the scar;Fig. 22, a broken top or plan view of the trigger mechanism; Fig. 23, aside view of the same; Fig. 24, an enlarged side .view of the forwardend of the trigger mechanism; Fig. 25, an enlarged sideview of therearend of the same; Fig. 26,'a sectional view of the tripping device;Fig. 27, a top view of the trippingplate; Fig. 28, ya side view of thesame; Fig. 29,4 a sectional view on line 29 29 of Fig. 2,8; Fig. 30, aside view of the tripping-plate l spring; Fig. 31, a top view of thesame; Fig.

32, a sectional view showing the ltrippingplate stop-pin raised; Fig.33, a similar View with the pin seated in the pocket; Fig. 3,4, asectional view showing the top of the stoppin with the two holes withwhich it may engage; Fig. 35, a sectional viewthrough the breech-block,showing the construction of the cooking-lever pin; Fig. 36, a side view'of the insulating-bushing for the cooking-lever;

-6 and 7.

Fig. 37, a side view of the washer used in connection therewith; Fig.38, an end view of the bushing This invention relates to an improvementin rapid-fire ordnance, and particularly to that class which havevertically-movable brleech-blocks to close the breech of the barre Oneobject of the invention is to provide means whereby the primer may beexploded, either by the force of the spring of the ringpin or byelectricity, without making any change in the action of the parts and sothat if the gun fails to lire electrically the primer may be exploded.by a blow from the firingpin, or vice versa.

A further object is to provide means for operating the parts eitherautomatically or manually, and another is to -insure the proper actionor movement of the breechblock and extractors; and the inventionconsists in the construction as will be hereinafter described, andparticularly recited in the claims.

In illustrating my invention I show certain parts which are constructedand act in the same way as corresponding parts shown and described inyLetters Patent No. 798,882, dated September 5, 1905.

The barrel 2 travels backend forth `in a cradle 3, being connectedtherewith through a spring-operating rod 4, chain 5, and hooks Thebreech is closed by a breechblock 8, which is guided for substantiallyvertical movement imparted by an operatingshaft 9 through anoperating-shaft link 10 and breech-block-opcrating link 11. Theextractors 12 are provided with studs 13, which enter cam-grooves 14 inthe sides of th e block, thc grooves near the top forming pockets'15,and in order to insure thc studs entering the pockets the studs areprovided with frictional spring-pins 16 and the .upper portions 17 ofthegrooves with shallow auxiliary grooves 13, into which the springpins 1,6will ride and so that. the studs 13 will be guided into the pockets 15.

In the breech-block is a hring-pin chamber 18, in which the .firing-pin19 is arranged, said pin formed with an annular groove 20. This pinpasses through aiiring-pin sleeve 21, from which it is insulated by afiring-pin-insulating bushing 22, said sleevehaving a flange23 at itsforward end and a shoulder 24 at its rear end and the sleeve andinsulatingbushing slotted at the bottom near the rear lOO IOSl

ro der 24.

zo cooking lever.

end. Over the sleeve 21 is placed a washer 25, which has a bearingagainst a shoulder 2 6 at the forward end of the firing-pin chamber.Around the sleeve 21 is a firing-pin spring 27,

which bears at its forward end against the washer 25 and at its rear endagainst the forward end of a firin -pin plu 28, screwed into the ,rearface of t e breec -b'lock, the said plug having a clearance-slot 29 fortheshoul- Mounted in the breech-blockl is a cooking-lever 30, having anoperating handle A or vgrip 31, a firing-pin arm 32, and a scar-arm 33.This lever 1s mounted upon a pin 34. The upper portion of the lever isbifurcated,

15 and between its sides is a compound-spring electric connection 37,mounted upon the cooking-lever pin 34, from which it is.insu

30 breech-block below the firing-pin chamber.

The sear-rod'42 extends through the sear 46,A

, from which it is insulated by a scar-ro d-insulating bushing 47 and isformed with a contact end 8. The sear is cut away to expose 3 5 the rod42 and to form shoulders 49 and 50 for the Sear-arm 33 of the(locking-lever. At the left-hand end the sear has a cam 51, as will behereinafter explained, and is turned against the action of a fla-tSear-spring 52.

40 Connected with a trigger 52a, arranged forward of a grip 53, is amechanical triggertube 54, formed from insulating material and providedat its rear end with a cap 55, having' a notch 56 to engage with the cam51 on the .sear and so that if the tube 54 be moved rearward it willturn said cam, andfhence rotate the sear. If desired, the tube 54 maybepartiallyvcovered by a bearing-sleeve 54a. Extending through the tube 54is an electric gocontact-rcd 57. This rod has an end 59,

whichprojects fromV the forward end of the VVfi "tube/,Tand to the rearend is attached a contact-spring 60,-which pro ects upward through anopenmg 61, formed or it in the tube 54,

55 into contact with` the end 48 of the Sear-rod 42. Arranged in linewith but forward of the end 59 'of the contact-rod 57' is a contactpin62, adapted to be moved by a trigger 63, arranged forward of the trigger52L and nor- '6o mally held out of contact with the end 59l by a spring64. This pinis connected with one Wire of an electric circuit leading toa battery, (not shown,) the other wire of the circuit extending intocontact with the barrel in the 65 usual way.

holes 71a. -the rear end of the trip-plate the spring 71 To turn the oerating-shaft 9, that shaft is provided at its eft-'hand end with a cam66, which normally stands against one side of a trip-plate 67, mountedin a guard 67a and adapted to turn transversely upon a pivot passingvertically through a vhole 67 a, formed for it near the forward end ofthe cam-plate. This plate is formed atA its rear end witha camsurface 68and in itsupper edge with a slot 69, opening .into a pocket 70. As thecam 66 on the operating-shaft 9'moves rearward, as indicated by thepositions a b c d ef in Fig. 28, it passes over the cani-surface 68 andwill force the triplate outward against the pressure of a bowe spring71, secured to the outside face of the plate through rivet- After thecam 66 passes beyond throws it inward into the path ofthe cam 66 and sothat on the return movement the cam 66 strikes the rear end of thetrip-plate, as at Y e, and the continued forward movement of the shaft 9will cause the cam 66 to be turned, as at g h i, until the cam 66escapes the lower edge of the trip-plate and rides,up over an incline72, as at 7c m, into its former position,r permitting theoperating-shaft to be turned by the action of the spring-operating rod4. The trip-plate is provided with wings or projects 73, which'bearagainst shoulders 74, which preventthe trip-plate from being turned toofar inward.

Itis not always desirable to have the operating-shaft turnedautomatically, and to control the movement of the trip-plate I arrange atrip-plate stop-pin 75' in an outwardly-inclined opening 76 above andinline with the slot 69 in the trip-plate. This rod is forced downwardby a spring 77, but may be raised by a knob 78 at its upper end. Thisknob has an eccentric-pin 782L rejecting from its .lower face and adapteto enter either of two holes 80 or 81, formed for itin the frame, onehole being deeper than the other. On the top of the knob is an arrow orother indicating device to point to the Words auto or handj accordinglyas the knob is turned to have the pin 7 8a enter into the deep orshallow hole. If the pin is in the shallow hole 80, the pointerwillindicate auto, and the end of the trip-plate stoppin will be liftedout of the pocket 7 0 and so that the trip-plate will be free to turn."If, however, the pin 7 8His entered into the deep hole 81, the stop-pinwill enter the pocket 70 when the trip-plate is turned outward and holdthe same in thatposition and so that the plate will not obstruct themovement of the -ICO ITO

cam 66, and hence will not turn the operating-shaft 9. ever, for movingthe shaft manually. erably the pin 3 4 for the cocking-levenwill beProvision will be made, howprovided at its outer end with two springarms82, formed integral with it, but separated from the central portion 83byslots 84 Prefand 85, and these arms have studs 86, which enter notches87, formed for them in the breech-block. .By leaving the central portion83 between the arms82 a stop is formed which prevents the arms beingpressed to.- ward each other to a sufficient extent to set the arms in acompressed position. The pin by which the link 11 is connected to thebreech-block will preferably be formed in the same way. y

To cock the gun for manual operation, the lever 30 will be turned tomove the sleeve 21, the flange 23 of which will move the washer 25 andcompress the spring 27 and at the same time cause the arm 33 to turnAthe sear to the firing position. If then the trigger 52'f1 be pulled,the sear will be turned or freed to turn so as to release thecocking-lever, allowing the spring 27 to force the sleeve 23 forward,and this sleeve bearing against the head of the firing-pin will give itsufficient momentum to throw it against the primer with power to explodeit. The forward movement of the firing-pin is against the force of thespring 43, which, however, is not a strong one, but simply suflicient towithdraw the firing-pin, so that its point will recede from the primerafter discharge, so as to clear the same as the breech-block falls.

To fire the gun electrically, the trigger 63 will be pulled, which movesthe contact-pin' 62 into contact with "the end 59, closing the circuitwhich leads through the rod 57, spring 60, scar-rod 42, spring-arm 41,spring-arm 43, iiring-pin 19 to the primer, which is in contact with thebarrel, and thence back to the battery.

It will thus be seen that the gun may be fired either electrically ormechanically, and if one should fail the other may be tried immediately.

Y Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new,- andl desireto secure' by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with the barrel and vertically-movable breech-blockhaving camgrooves and pockets, of extractors having studs projectinginto said cam-grooves, and spring-pins mounted in said studs and bearingagainst the bottoms of said grooves, substantiallyV as described.

2. The combination with the barrel and vertically-movable breech-blockhaving camgrooves and pockets, auxiliary grooves in the upper portionsof said cam-grooves, of extractors having studs projecting into saidcam-grooves, and spring-pins mounted in said stud andcoacting with saidauxiliary grooves, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a breech-block having a firing-pin chamber, of afiring-pin therein, a sleeve surrounding said pin and insulatedtherefrom, a spring surrounding said sleeve and adapt id to becompressed thereby, a sear-rod insulated from surrounding mechanism, anelectrical connector having arms in contact with the firing-pin and withthe Sear-rod, a trigger-rod, a plug a trigger for moving said plug intocontact with the trigger-rod for closing the circuit through saidtrigger-rod, scar-rod and firing-pin, substantially as described.

4. The ycombination with a breech-block having a` firing-pin chamber, afiring-pin therein, a sleeve surrounding said firing-pin, a spring formoving said firing-pin forward, a connector in engagement with the saidsleeve, a scar, a trigger-rod for turning said sear, and a trigger formoving said triggerrod, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a breech-block having a firing-pin chamber, of afiring-pin therein, a sleeve surrounding said pin and insulatedtherefrom, a spring surrounding said sleeve and adapted to be compressedthereby, a cocking-le'ver, a sear for releasing the same, a rodextending through said sear, an electrical connector having spring-armsin contact with the firing-pin and scar-rod, a firing-tube to actuatesaid sear, a firing-rod extending through said tube into contact withthe scar-rod, a trigger to move said tube, and a second trigger .coupledwith a contact-pin adapted to contact with said firing-rod,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a breech-block having a firing-pin chamber, of afiring-pin therein, a sleeve surrounding said pin and insulatedtherefrom, a spring surrounding sai/d sleeve and adapted to becompressed thereby, a cocking-lever the upper portion of which isbifurcated, a sear for releasing said lever, a rod extending throughsaid sear and insulated therefrom, an electric connector mounted betweenthe sides of said cockinglever and insulated therefrom, said connectorhaving'spring-arms in electric -contact with the iiring-pin and thescar-rod, a firingtube to4 actuate said sear, a firing-rod extendingthrough said tube into contact with the scar-rod, a trigger to move saidtube, and a second trigger coupled with the contact-pin adapted tocontact with said iiring-rod, substantially as described. i

7. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the operating-shafthaving an operating-cam, of a trip-plate pivoted .in a guard connectedwith the frame and adapted to swing laterally out of and into the pathof said operating-cam, said plate formed with a pocket in its upperedge, and a trip-plate stop-pin arranged above said plate and adapted toenter said pocket when the plate is turned outward and lock the same inits turned position, substantially as described.

8. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with an operating-shafthaving an operi ating-cam, of a trip-plate pivoted at its forward end inthe guardconnected with the frame and its rear end adapted to swing lat-IOO Aerally out 'of and into the path of the said operating-camwherebysaid cam may pass' the plate in one direction, but be turned therebywhen moved in the opposite direction to rotate the said operating-shaft,substantially as described.

9. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the shaft for operatingthe breechblock, said shaft having an operating-cam projecting from oneside, of a trip-plate pivoted in a guard connected With the frame andadapted to swing laterally out of and into the pathY of s'aidoperating-cam, said plate formed with a pocket at its upper edge, and atrip-plate stop-pin arranged above said plate l.and vertically movableinsaid guard, the lower end of said pinv adapted to enter said pocket whenthe plate is turned outward and lock the same in its .turned positionand formed at its upper end with an eccentrically-arranged depending pinadapted to enter either one of two holes formed to receive it in theupper edge of said guard; said holes being .differentiated in depthwhereby the stop-pin is held at different points of elevation,substantially as described. y

:[n testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN w. DEARBORN.

vWitnesses:

ETHEL A. MANN, F. A. MILLER.

